EP3880573A1

EP3880573A1 - Captive closure

Info

Publication number: EP3880573A1
Application number: EP19802115.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günter Krautkrämer
Original assignee: Bericap Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Bericap Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2018-11-16
Filing date: 2019-11-06
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-06
Also published as: EP3880573B1; WO2020099516A1; HUE063658T2; EP3880573C0; WO2020099199A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure consisting of a screw cap (10) and a tamperproof strip (3). The screw cap (2) has at least one cylindrical cap casing (2) with an inner thread (17), and the lower edge of the cap casing (2) is connected to the circumferential tamperproof strip (3) along easily tearable weakness lines (13, 14) at the lower open end of the cap casing (2). The tamperproof strip (3) remains captively connected to the cap casing (2) after a tearing process by means of holding strips (15, 16). The aim of the invention is to improve a closure of the aforementioned type such that the screw cap can be reliably moved away from the opening region of a corresponding container neck without the risk of the screw cap reaching across the cross-section of the container opening or at least into the proximity of the container opening, where the screw cap would interfere while pouring or drinking directly from the container for example, when the container is tilted. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the holding strips (15, 16) are formed by two separate weakness lines (13, 14), each of which is interrupted at least once in the circumferential direction and which overlap in the circumferential direction and run at an axial distance to each other at least in the overlap region. The interruption sections (11, 12) of the two weakness lines (13, 14) are bridged by the respective other weakness line (14, 13) preferably at an axial distance, and at least two overlap regions on both sides of the interruption section of the upper weakness line extend over a respective circumferential angle of the tamperproof strip of at least 60° and less than 160°.

Description

Captive closure

The present invention relates to a captive closure, consisting of a screw cap with a guarantee band, the screw cap having at least one cylindrical casing with an internal thread and connected at the lower, open end of the cap casing to the circumferential guarantee band along easily tearable lines of weakness with the lower edge of the cap casing is, the guarantee tape remains tied to the cap jacket after tearing along the lines of weakness via retaining straps.

The invention also relates to a combination of a container neck with an external thread and a previously defined, captive closure with a screw cap with an internal thread and with a corresponding guarantee band. The container neck has a so-called pilferproof ring below its external thread, directly below which the guarantee band of the closure is located when the container is closed.

Such a captive closure, also in combination with a container, is known, for example, from FR 2785264. In the closure known from this publication, a guarantee band is connected to a hinge section at the lower edge of a screw cap via two relatively short retaining straps. The hinge area has a relatively complex structure with different sections of different wall thickness and extends into the cap jacket. The straps are relatively short. Since the hinge extends into the casing of the screw cap, the screw cap released from the threaded engagement can be folded away laterally from the container neck, but its entire cross section cannot be raised over the edge of the associated container neck. The screw cap thus still remains relatively close to the container opening and, if necessary, depending on the specific design of the hinge, can tilt back over the cross section of the container opening when the container is tilted, for example to pour liquid.

WO 2016/160591 also shows a captive closure, in which the cap jacket and the guarantee band are connected to one another only via two short bands acting as a hinge. Folding the screw cap back onto the container opening solely due to the force of gravity, if the container is tilted accordingly, can only be avoided with such an embodiment with difficulty. In general, the previously known captive closures have proven to be annoying when handling the container thus closed after opening, because the screw caps in the opened state do not assume a sufficiently stable position beyond the opening cross section of the container neck.

Compared to this prior art, the object of the present invention is to improve a closure of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the screw cap can be moved safely out of the opening region of a corresponding container neck without the risk of the container tipping over In order, for example, to empty liquid through the container opening, the screw cap reaches over the cross section of the container opening or at least in the vicinity of the container opening, where it would interfere, for example, either when pouring out or when drinking directly from the container.

This object is achieved according to the present invention in that the holding straps are formed by two separate weakening lines, which are interrupted at least once in the circumferential direction, the weakening lines overlap in the circumferential direction and at least axially spaced from one another in their overlap region, the interruption sections of both weakening lines are preferably bridged at an axial distance from the respective other weakening line, and at least two overlap regions on both sides of the interruption section of the upper weakening line each extend over a circumferential angle of the guarantee band of at least 60 ° and less than 160 °.

In such an embodiment, the retaining straps consist of peripheral sections of the guarantee band, which are formed between the overlapping sections of the weakening line and thus extend in the circumferential direction measured over at least 60 °, preferably the overlapping areas have a circumferential extent of at least 75 ° or at least 85 ° and in particular at least 95 °.

A circumferential angle of 60 ° corresponds to one sixth of the circumference of the guarantee band and more than the radius of the same. The two by the interruption section of the upper weakening line separate tethers, which together make up more than 33% of the circumference, allow after unscrewing the screw cap from a corresponding container terhals thread lifting the cap jacket over the top of a container neck and a side Moving the screw cap into a position next to the container neck, in which a disturbance of pouring out of the container neck or drinking from the opening of the container terhalses can be practically excluded. In addition, this non-disturbing position can be stabilized with sufficient length of the straps on the neck of the container. This applies in particular to Container necks, the height of which, measured from the pilferproof ring, is less than half the (outer) diameter of the container neck. With higher (axially longer) container necks, the minimum length of the straps can be adjusted accordingly.

The reference to a container neck is only used to facilitate the description and understanding. The respective maximum height of the container neck closed with such a closure results solely from the dimensions of the closure or the screw cap itself, because the height of the container neck cannot exceed the inner axial height of the screw cap, so that the above features are unique and immediate can be verified on a closure according to the invention.

The length of the retaining straps can in particular be sufficient to move the screw cap laterally in one of two opposite directions laterally from the container neck opening, on which a corresponding closure is mounted. Depending on the arrangement of the retaining straps and the interruption sections delimiting the retaining straps, it can then be ensured that the screw cap can be moved down as far as possible next to a container neck after the lateral movement away so that the edge of the screw cap rests, for example, on a support ring that usually has a bottle neck below the Guarantee band surrounds, can get caught.

You can adjust the length of the overlap areas and thus the length of the straps as well as their position, among other things, so that the screw cap, when it is moved to one of the two possible sides away from the opening of the container neck and folded, puts the straps under tension and thereby pulls the screw cap in a folded state to the outside of the container neck, especially in the area of the external thread of the container neck or below in the area of a pilferproof ring, presses against the container neck, the retaining straps being under elastic tension and thereby the screw cap being folded over in this Hold position.

In order to achieve this, one can, for example, set the interruption section of the upper weakening line so that it extends over a circumferential angle of at most 90 °, preferably of at most 80 ° and for example over 60 ° circumferential angle, while the interruption section of the lower weakening line extends over extends a somewhat larger circumferential angle of at most 120 °, preferably at most 100 ° and in particular 80 ° to 90 °.

In the case of a screw cap, each with an upper and a lower weakening line interrupted once, the sum of the circumferential angles detected by the interruption sections and the overlapping areas is 360 °. Even if the center points of the interruption sections measured in the circumferential direction lie diametrically opposite one another, this nevertheless means it is not imperative that the retaining straps or their centers are diametrically opposite along the circumference. Rather, in the case of (in the circumferential direction) interruptions of different lengths, the holding straps are cut to a, in the present case the upper, interruption section.

Specifically, the straps are delimited at both ends by the upper and lower interruption portions. This means that the screw cap can be moved laterally along the container neck in different ways on the two opposite sides and can be hooked on, for example, under a support ring on the one side, while on the other side by means of elastically tensioned retaining straps at the level of the external thread a bottle neck is pulled up to it and stabilized.

In one embodiment, the axial distance between the lines of weakness in the overlap area should be between 1 mm and 4 mm, the smaller width possibly being preferred if the holding straps are to be placed under elastic tension. In any case, the straps should be sufficiently stable and should not be easily torn (especially by children). Retaining straps that withstand a tensile force of at least 40 N are preferred. With a width of z. B. 3 mm and a wall thickness of 0.3 to 0.8 mm, straps made of HD polypropylene should meet this requirement.

Overall, one has a certain scope for the extent to which the interruption sections and the lines of weakness are to be achieved in order to achieve the aforementioned goals. The upper interruption section could accordingly extend over an angular range of 20 ° to 75 °, in particular over 40 ° to 60 °, and the lower interruption section could extend over a circumferential angle range of, for example, 40 ° to 120 °, in particular over 60 ° to 95 ° extend. The circumferential angles remaining thereafter are taken up by overlapping areas of the lines of weakness.

The invention also relates to a combination of a container neck with an external thread and a closure cap with an internal thread, as has already been described above. The container neck has a so-called pilferproof ring underneath its external thread, immediately below which, when the container is closed, there is the guarantee band of the closure cap.

In one embodiment, the inside of the cap shell has an axial height that is less than half, in particular less than 2/5, of its inside diameter, the length and position of the retaining straps being adapted such that the screw cap is unscrewed from an external thread on a container neck, the axial height of which corresponds at most to the axial, inner height of the cap shell, in at least one, preferably and optionally in one of two opposite directions of such a container neck can be moved laterally without overlap with the opening cross-section of the cap shell before unscrewing, so as to completely release a corresponding container neck opening.

The guarantee band can be, for example, a so-called flex band, which consists of an inner, axially folded-back section, which hooks onto the pilferproof ring of the container, and an outer section, which is connected to the cap jacket, and the weakening lines and holding bands and interruption areas that have just been described having. The inner section folded over and also a lower edge section of the outer part of the guarantee band, which lies below the lower weakening line, remains connected to one another and is held below the pilferproof ring.

Usually, a corresponding container neck also has a so-called support ring, which is primarily used for the mechanical handling of such containers, but which also serves the purpose of making access to the guarantee band more difficult from the outside by having a closed closure immediately below the guarantee band is provided so that the lower edge of the guarantee band is difficult to access and cannot be easily levered off from the interference with the pilferproof ring.

Even with such a combination, the length of the retaining straps can be dimensioned such that the screw cap can be lifted and laterally moved away after unscrewing and loosening the threaded engagement, so that the screw cap can be found laterally next to the container neck and with its full diameter in a position below the Pilferproofringes, preferably below the support ring, is movable.

The lower edge of the screw cap, more precisely the interruption section still connected to the screw cap, which limits the retaining straps to one side, can then be hooked in under the sup port ring.

Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the associated figures. Show it:

1A shows a closure according to the invention on a bottle neck in a perspective view.

1B shows the closure from FIG. 1A in a side view.

1 C the closure according to FIG. 1A in a position partially unscrewed from a bottle neck. Figure 1 D the closure of Figure 1A in a fully unscrewed and partially moved away from the bottle neck.

2A shows an angle division to illustrate the circumferential extent of lines of weakness of the guarantee band.

2B shows a processing of the guarantee band on the basis of the angle division according to FIG. 2A. 3 shows a screw cap unscrewed from a bottle neck and completely lifted off the opening of the bottle neck and arranged on the side.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show further illustrations of screw caps which are lifted from a bottle neck and are arranged laterally next to the latter.

1A shows a screw cap, designated overall by 10, which has a head plate 1 and an approximately cylindrical cap casing 2, the cap casing 2 also being equipped with a corrugated grip. At the lower edge of the screw cap 2 there is a guarantee band 3 which is connected to the lower edge of the cap shell 2 via lines of weakness, the lines of weakness 13, 14 not being formed all the way round, however, so that the cap shell has corresponding interruption sections 11, 12 remains connected to a lower section of the guarantee band 3, which in turn is held on the bottle neck below a pilfer proof ring 21 visible in FIGS. 1 C and 1 D.

The associated bottle neck is not shown in FIG. 1B and only the so-called support ring 24 is visible in FIGS. 1A, 1 C and 1 D, above which the upper part of the bottle neck 20 with thread and pilferproof ring 21 is hidden by the closure.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B it can be seen very clearly that the weakening lines 13, 14 are on the one hand at an axial distance from one another and on the other hand also overlap over a certain angular range. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, with FIG. 2B above all clearly showing the areas of overlap between the weakening lines 13, 14.

The circumferential angles along which the lines of weakness 13, 14 overlap can deviate from the illustration in FIG. 2B and are only shown here by way of example. The upper weakening line 13 in the axial direction of the closure according to FIG. 1A or 1 B has an upper interruption region 11 and the lower weakening line 14 seen in the axial direction has a lower interruption section 12. The upper interruption section 1 1 is integrally connected to the cap jacket 2 and forms an extension extending the cap jacket 2. The lower interruption section 12 forms an axially upward-facing shoulder on the guarantee band section, which is held underneath the pilferproof ring 21. If the total of 3 guaranteed band along the weakening lines 13, 14 is separated, so-called retaining straps 15, 16 are formed in the overlap regions between the weakening lines 13, 14, one end of each of these retaining straps being firmly connected to the upper interruption section 1 and the other end of these straps 15, 16 is firmly connected to the lower interruption section 12. The lower interruption section 12 forms, together with the section of the guarantee band 3 below the lower weakening line 14, a completely circumferential section held on a pilferproof ring 21 from the guarantee band 3, while the upper interruption section 1 1 is firmly connected to the screw cap jacket 2.

The upper weakening line 13 can also be regarded as the lower edge or lower edge of the screw cap casing 2, since everything that lies above the weakening line 13 is firmly connected to the cap casing 2.

The overlap regions of the weakening lines 13, 14 define the length of the holding straps 15, 16. Measured as the circumferential angle, the length of these holding straps should make up at least 60 °, preferably at least 75 °, of the circumference of the guarantee band 3, i.e. the two overlapping areas of the weakening lines 13, 14, which are defined in FIG. 1B as retaining straps 15, 16, extend over a circumferential angle of at least approximately 75 °.

In the example in FIG. 1B, the overlap extends over an angular range of more than 90 ° and up to approximately 100 °. However, as already mentioned, these angular ranges can vary within the claimed limits as long as the sum of the circumferential angles, which is taken up by the overlap regions or retaining straps 15, 16 and the interruption sections 11, 12, gives the full extent of 360 °.

The minimum length of the holding straps 15, 16 or the minimum angular range over which the holding straps extend is explained with reference to the other figures. 1 C shows that when the screw cap 10 is unscrewed, the lines of weakness 13, 14 tear open and the guarantee band 3 is largely separated from the lower edge of the cap shell, both along the upper line of weakness 13 and along the lower line of weakness 14, the connection between a lower portion of the guarantee band, which is held by a pilfer proofring 21 on the bottle neck, and the lower edge of the screw cap 10 via the retaining straps 15, 16 is maintained.

It is understood that while unscrewing the screw cap 2 from the bottle neck 20, the guarantee band 3 comprising the bottle neck below the pilferproof ring 21 rotates together with the screw cap 10, but not the axial one caused by the thread pitch Movement of the cap shell 2 can follow, so that for this reason the lines of weakness 13, 14 tear open. The guarantee band 3 is preferably a so-called flex band, of which a radially inner and axially folded section 3 'can still be seen in FIGS. 1 C and 1 D, and this section 3' engages under the pilferproof ring 21 and as a result vertical lifting of the whole Guarantee band 3 prevented upwards.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 C and 1 D, the holding straps 15, 16 are sufficiently long to lift the interruption section 11 on the side opposite the interruption section 12 over the upper edge of the bottle neck 20 and laterally over the bottle neck opening move away into a position, as shown for example in Figures 4A and 4B. However, this requires a sufficient minimum length of the holding straps 15, 16, this minimum length also partly depending on the axial height of the bottle neck, which generally also corresponds to the inner axial height of the cap shell 2, since the edge of the upper cylindrical section 22 of the bottle neck in closed state with sealing elements on the inside of the head plate 1 of the screw cap 10 engages.

The bottle neck 20 has on its cylindrical section 22 a thread 23 corresponding to the screw cap thread and underneath a pilferproof ring 21 and again at a distance from the pilferproof ring 21 a so-called support ring 24 which serves to handle the containers in a simple manner by machine. The clear distance between the pilferproof ring 21 and the support 24 is dimensioned such that the guarantee band 3, and in particular the inner, folded-up flex band section 3 ', fits with little play between the pilferproof ring and the support ring.

In the already mentioned FIGS. 4A and 4B, the initial movement of the screw cap 10, as shown in FIG. 1 D, has continued and the screw cap 10 completely opens the opening of the bottle neck 20 and has been moved laterally next to the bottle neck 20. 4A, the interruption section 11 can be hooked under the support ring 24, even if in FIG. 4A the interruption section 11 is still somewhat above the support ring 24.

Another possibility is to simply move the screw cap laterally and essentially translationally over the bottle neck opening and downward, so that its outer side rests on the bottle neck or on the lower interruption section 12 of the guarantee band 3, the retaining straps 15, 16 can be stretched more or less elastically depending on the length. An elastic tension of the straps 15, 16 can also occur when the interruption section 1 1 is hooked under the support ring 24. Figure 3 shows a further variant of a closure cap with somewhat longer retaining straps 15, 16, which allows the screw cap 10 to be lifted off the bottle neck 20 and folded over on the side of the bottle neck 20 opposite the interruption section 12, so that the concave sides of the cap jacket 2 and of the bottle neck 20 abut each other on the side opposite the interruption section 12. Depending on the circumferential extent of the upper interruption section 11, the ends of the holding straps 15, 16 are held at a distance from the bottle neck and are thus placed in elastic tension, which stabilizes the folded-over position of the closure cap shown in FIG. As a result, FIGS. 3 and 4 show A, B positions of the closure cap clearly next to a container neck 20 and with complete release of the opening of the container neck, these positions of the screw cap being sufficiently stable to also tip a container, for example to pour out liquid, or to prevent the screw cap from falling back or tipping back, even when drinking directly from the bottle neck opening. Rather, it remains stable in the positions shown, but can, if necessary, be closed again by hand and screwed onto the bottle neck 20. The closure is captively attached to the bottle neck by the holding straps 15, 16, can be opened easily and simply, and the screw cap can optionally be positioned and stabilized in non-disturbing positions next to a corresponding container neck.

Reference numerals

1 headstock

2 cap jacket

3 guarantee tape

3 'section of the flex band lying radially on the inside and axially folded over

10 screw cap

11, 12 interruption section

13, 14 line of weakness

15.16 tether

20 bottlenecks

21 Pilferproof ring

22 upper cylindrical section of the bottle neck

23 threads

24 support ring

Claims

Patent claims

1. Closure, consisting of a screw cap (10) and a guarantee band (3), the screw cap (2) having at least one cylindrical cap jacket (2) with an internal thread (17) and at the lower, open end of the cap jacket (2) the circumferential guarantee band (3) is connected along easily tearable weakening lines (13, 14) to the lower edge of the cap casing (2), the guarantee band (3) being torn along the weakening lines (13, 14) via holding bands (15, 16) remains inseparably connected to the cap jacket (2), characterized in that the retaining straps (15, 16) are formed by two separate weakening lines (13, 14) which are interrupted at least once in the circumferential direction and overlap in the circumferential direction and at least in the overlap range in an axial distance from one another, the interruption sections (1 1, 12) of both lines of weakness (13, 14) from the respective other line of weakness (14, 13) preferably at an axial distance nd are bridged and at least two overlap areas on both sides of the interruption section of the upper weakening line each extend over a circumferential angle of the guarantee band of at least 60 ° and less than 160 °.

2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the overlap regions each extend over a circumferential angle of at least 75, better at least 85 °, and preferably more than 95 °.

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the interruption section (1 1) of the upper weakening line (13) over a circumferential angle of at most 90 °, preferably of at most 80 °, and the interruption section (12) of the lower weakening line extends over a circumferential angle of at most 120 °, preferably at most 100 °.

4. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center points of the interruption sections (1 1, 12) measured in the circumferential direction lie diametrically opposite one another.

5. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial distance of the lines of weakness (13, 14) in the overlap area is between 1 and 4 mm.

6. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper interruption section (1 1) over a circumferential angle range of 20-75 °, in particular over 40 -60 ° and the lower interruption section (12) over a circumferential angle range of 40-120 , in particular extends 60 - 100 °.

7. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap jacket (2) has on its inside an axial height which is less than half, in particular less than 2/5 of its inner diameter, the length and position of the retaining straps ( 15, 16) is adapted such that the screw cap (10) after unscrewing an external thread (23) on a container neck (20), the axial height of which corresponds at most to the axial, inner height of the cap shell (2), in at least one, preferably and optionally in one of two opposite directions from such a container neck (20) laterally without overlap with the opening cross-section of the cap casing (2) before unscrewing, so as to completely open a corresponding container neck opening.

8. Combination of a container neck (20) with an external thread (23) and a closure cap (10) with an internal thread according to one of the preceding claims 1-6, wherein the container neck has a pilferproof ring (21) below the thread, immediately below which when closed The guarantee band (3) of the sealing cap.

9. Combination claim 8, characterized in that the container neck (20) has a support ring (24), the diameter of which is larger than the pilferproof ring (21) above the guarantee band (3) when the closure is closed.

10. Combination according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the length of the retaining straps (15, 16) is dimensioned such that the screw cap (10) after opening and moving away from the container opening and / or tilting sideways next to the container hall and with its full diameter below the pilfer proof ring (21), preferably below the support ring (24).